Dallas Mavericks at San Antonio Spurs NBA Picks & Predictions 12/16/2017

Saturday, December 16, 2017

AT&T Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Dallas Mavericks travel to AT&T Center to play the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday, December 16, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has San Antonio as 8 point favorites.

The Mavericks come into this game with an overall record of 8-21. They are 5th in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of -3.5 as they are averaging 99.8 points per game while giving up 103.3 per contest. The Spurs have an overall record of 19-9. They currently are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 101.1 points per game and surrendering 97.5, good for a point differential of 3.6.

Valuable Dallas Mavericks Betting Trends

The Dallas Mavericks are 13-15-1 against the spread

The Dallas Mavericks are 12-17-0 against the over/under

Important San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends

The San Antonio Spurs are 14-13-1 against the spread

The San Antonio Spurs are 11-17-0 against the over/under

Key Dallas Mavericks Injuries

12/11/17 PG Dennis Smith Jr. Hip is out indefinitely
12/06/17 F Nerlens Noel Thumb is out indefinitely
11/14/17 F Dorian Finney-Smith Knee is out indefinitely
10/07/17 G Seth Curry Stress Fracture is out indefinitely

Key San Antonio Spurs Injuries

12/04/17 G Kyle Anderson Knee is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Harrison Barnes averages 18.3 points per game in 35 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2 assists per contest and 7.4 rebounds per game for Dallas. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%. Wesley Matthews comes into this contest averaging 12.2 points per game while playing 34.4 minutes per night so far this season for the Mavericks. He pulls down 3 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.8 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 40% while his free throw percentage is currently at 80%.

Player Spotlight

LaMarcus Aldridge averages 22.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 33.6 minutes per contest. He also averages 8.3 rebounds per contest and 2.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 50% and his free throw percentage is 85%. Pau Gasol averages 10.9 points per game while playing 25.2 minutes per contest this year for the Spurs. He grabs 7.9 rebounds per game and has 3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 48% and his free throw percentage currently is at 82%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Mavericks allow 103.3 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 9th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 16th and 16th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 46 rebounds a game which ranks 26th, and they give up 22.7 assists per contest which puts them in 16th place in the league. They force 14.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 9th in the league. Dallas averages 99.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 27th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -3.48 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 28th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 17th in the league. They average 41.6 rebounds per game and 21.3 assists per game, which ranks them 24th and 22nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 29th with 13.4 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Spurs surrender 97.5 points per contest, which ranks them 1st in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 10th and 7th in those defensive statistics. They rank 6th with 20.9 assists allowed per contest, and 5th with 41.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Spurs are 11th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per game this season. San Antonio is 25th in the league with 101.1 points per game this year. They are 17th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 3.54. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 18th in the NBA. They are 9th in the league in rebounding with 44.8 boards per game and 14th in assists per contest with 22.8. The Spurs are 22nd in turnovers per game with 14.2.

Advanced Statistics

The Mavericks are 26th in the league in defensive rating with 107.7, and their offensive rating of 104.1 is ranked 15th. They are 26th in the NBA in pace with 95.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 22nd. As a unit they are 24th in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 5th in the NBA. Dallas is 27th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 13th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

San Antonio is 22nd in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 25th in the league. The Spurs are 15th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.2, and their defensive rating of 103.5 is ranked 28th. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 94.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 21st. As a team they are 20th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 22nd in the league.

Who will win tonight's Mavericks/Spurs NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take San Antonio -8

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